Homespun Things....Inspiration and Imitation...

 

You can have the good things in life for less, if you're even a wee bit creative.

 

I've certainly squeezed quite a bit of luxury out of a tiny budget of late.

 

Below is the inspiration for my Daughters Glampavan.

 

Pictured above is the components of our palette....inspired by, not identical. Who needs to follow things that slavishly!

 

Inspiration above, reality below...

 

 

 

 

Inspiration on Pinterest above...my own jug, just done this morning here below...

 

 

 

Embroidered Llama jacket here...goodness...all of those French knots!

 

 

Our cheaty version using a store bought applique` and tassel trim below.

Here's the cake Daughter wanted for her 18th birthday earlier this year...

 

And here's my version...inspired by, but not an identical imitation...

 



 

I've lusted after a chintz bedspread since I was twenty years old. I particularly wanted this beautiful Spring-like colourway...

 

A random visit to a favourite charity shop last week yielded this beautiful duvet cover. King size, with fab tailored pillow slips, still with tags....$6!

 

Chanel ring? $2,900 if you please.

My ring...thrifted of course...$3.

 

Close enough for me!

 

Loving Dita Von Teese in her summery outfit here above.

 

I echoed the look with a gingham top, beads and sunglasses. I'm no Dita, but I can still endeavour to look my best. 

 

Speaking of gingham, I fell in love with these cute jam pots found on Pinterest.

 

 

My friend Annabel from The Bluebirds are Nesting, gifted me these lovely labels, so I made my own jam pots.

 



 

Gifting often means home baked goodies around here. I saw this rather plain idea also on Pinterest.

 

And swapped the waxed paper for foil, and some labels from Annabel, and ended up with this...

 

Stamped vintage floral sheets as gift ribbon....another Annabel idea...thanks Annabel!

 

Her powder puffs here...

 

...inspired mine, here...

 

A pic of a Laduree takeaway cup on Instagram..

 

 

...inspired my panne velvet and gold piped coffee cup cozies...

 

These gorgeous chocolates in a boutique...

 

...gave me the idea for my own custom wrapped chocolates. You can find these as a download here.

 

 

I was forever eyeing off lush French bedding...

 

 

….so I made some with simple purchased trims and scraps of fabric...

 

 

Granddaughter loved this sweet petit four so much when we visited a café...

 

...that she inspired me to bake, ice and decorate some for her...

 

 

Another pretty Annabel creation...a pile of cards to gift...

 

...gave me this idea...

 

 

...and her gorgeous tea towels motivated me to get stitching...those are a work in progress.

 

 

She also inspired me with these stunning wrapped soaps...

 

 

...I now make my own regularly as impromptu gifts...

 

See more of Annabels ideas here.

 

This stylish box of confectionery...$70 if you don't mind...

Made me feel good about gifting this huge box of honeycomb.

 

$5 thanks.

 

Phew.

 

After all that inspiration and creation, I need a Chai Latte.

 

Homemade of course.

 

 

Would you expect anything less?

Budgeting and Insourcing...How to bake and make do...

 

I was getting ready to do the grocery shop the other day.

 

To prepare for a grocery shop, I always do a refrigerator cleanout and pantry stocktake. How else do I know what we really need? 

 

Do you do this too?

 

Well once I'd done that, I realised that if I made yoghurt, used up the bits and pieces I had in the fridge, and baked bread, I actually didn't need much at all!

 

THAT was a good feeling.

 

Granddaughter and I baked the cupcakes above.

 

I got a batch of coconut yoghurt going. You can find my recipe here.

 

 

I baked my Artisanal Gluten Free Bread, recipe for that one here.

I used a batch of normal dairy home made Greek Yoghurt to make some Labne (also known as Labna, Labneh or Middle Eastern Cheese). This now sells in a tiny tub for $6, so I swear I could make a killing marketing this one to the hipsters! Here are the instructions. I added cracked pepper and extra virgin olive oil and kept this batch as a spread, although it was thick enough to roll into balls. I love this so much, and it's absolutely gorgeous as a dip base, an accompaniment to rissoles or chicken, or as a spread.

I roasted some fresh beetroot that I'd forgotten about...

 



 

...and while they were roasting, I cut up a capsicum past it's prime and several carrots, so they'd roast and be used as snacks and salad additions...

 

Somebody in the household had opened both a can of tuna AND a can of salmon for sandwiches, so I used the combination of the two, to make yummy seafood mornays with crunchy gluten free breadcrumb and cheese topping. Just make a white sauce, add the tuna and salmon, season well and decant into ramekins or a casserole dish and top with a mixture of breadcrumbs and cheese. Absolutely delish!

 

Two knobs of sausage mince were discovered in the bottom freezer drawer. I'd grabbed these when they were marked down to 20c each. Yes...20c!

 

From those I made two giant sausage rolls...each will feed the three of us.

 

And a yummy meatloaf loaded with veges, and topped with the gluten free pastry that was also hiding in the bottom drawer. My sister had grabbed this for me when it was marked down too.

 

Meatloaf can be a combination of any mince, any leftover cooked or raw veges, a bit of binding substance such as flour or breadcrumbs and a couple of eggs. That's it. You can't go wrong.

 

Winning!

 

So in addition to an organic frozen chicken, some salmon fillets bought a few weeks ago, a couple of chicken breasts and a piece of corned beef, we were looking good for the week.

 

Having a well stocked range of spices and condiments really helps with a  flavour boost when the meals are plain too...

 

 

And I always have multiple tubs of butter, dark chocolate, and slabs of Haloumi on hand as they keep for EVER. So a treat, some baking, and a flash breakfast are always in the mix.

 

 

Tidy refrigerator, full of goodies...

 

 

...and all I needed to buy was greens, shallots (spring onions), eggs, milk, bread and fruit.

 

Happy me.

 

I rewarded myself with a DIY Jamberry manicure. Wraps from my own stash. Free.

 

 

With some imagination, a few basic cooking skills and some pantry staples, you too can slash your grocery bill.

 

You can do it.

 

What are your favourite grocery busting recipes?